“Ah, the joys of camping,” Quain said. “Waking up in a puddle.”
“Yeah, sure, it’s a puddle,” Loren teased.
“Grow up.” Quain pulled his hood over his bald head.
“I’m not the one with the puddle.”
“That’s enough, gentlemen,” I said. Every muscle in my body ached. I clambered to my feet. Rain dripped into my eyes. I yanked my hood up. Icy water splashed down my neck. Lovely.
“Welcome to the rainy season,” Odd said. He swung his cloak around his broad shoulders.
Quain peered into the dark sky. “I told you the weather last year was unusually dry.”
“And how does that help us now?” Loren asked.
I ignored their bickering. My thoughts returned to my nightmare as Odd gathered his squad and prepared to leave. Tohon’s magic couldn’t be inside me. Could it? No. I’d never heard of such a thing. Then again, that shouldn’t be a surprise; my knowledge of the other eleven types of magic was limited. Perhaps it was mentioned in Ryne’s book about the various magical powers. I’d have to ask the next time I saw him.
The rain continued as we traveled back to the infirmary. The darkness turned into a grayness. The sound of raindrops striking the leaves interfered with our efforts to match the noise of our passage with the forest’s song. We stopped often to listen for intruders or signs of an ambush. At each stop, I touched the greenery without thought, seeking Kerrick’s magic. Nothing.
While I understood the need to be cautious, my frustration over our slow speed grew as the day progressed.
It was close to midnight when we arrived. I grabbed a few supplies and headed to Yuri’s cavern, ordering the others to remain behind. Flea slept on his bedroll, blocking the entrance.
He woke the instant I stepped over him. “Did you find a Peace Lily?”
“Yes, and it gave me its serum.” I placed everything on the floor so I could take off my dripping cloak and toss it into a corner with a wet plop.
“Do you think it’ll work?”
I pulled the blue sack from my pack. Was there even enough inside to save the patient? “I’m not...sure.”
“Then talk it through. That always helps me.” He flashed me his lopsided grin.
“Okay. If I inject this serum into Yuri, it’ll do one of two things. It will accelerate the disease and kill him. Then I revive him with a touch. Hopefully.”
“And the other?”
“It will cure him.”
“Why would you think that?”
I explained the link between the plague and Death Lily toxin.
“So you think since Death counters Peace, it’ll work in reverse?”
“Yes.”
“What happens if Yuri dies and you can’t bring him back to life?”
“Nothing. He’ll be gone.”
“Which will eventually happen regardless.” Flea gazed at the sleeping man. “We should ask Yuri first.”
“Is he lucid?”
“At times. He knows he has the plague. I thought it only fair to tell him.”
“You’re right. And we should ask for his permission to try the serum.”
Flea woke Yuri. The young man’s gaze jumped from Flea to me and back as we explained my theories. It was a lot of information to absorb.
When we finished, he closed his blue eyes for a moment. Then he looked at me. “Go ahead and do it. It’s my only chance to live.”
I picked up the syringe, poked the needle into the blue sack, and drew all the clear liquid into the reservoir. Tapping it, I expelled the air bubbles. Yuri’s gaze never left me. He held his right arm out. Flea stood on the other side of the bed, holding Yuri’s hand.
A drop of serum hung from the end of the needle as I approached. I ran my fingers along the inside of his arm, seeking the best spot.
Learn. The Lily’s comment came unbidden. I stopped as another scenario popped into my mind. Was the serum for me? Was I supposed to heal Yuri, die from the plague again and be revived by Flea’s touch?
Of all the options that one made the most sense. Had the best chance of working. Had worked before.
Why hadn’t I considered it prior to this moment? Was it because it would take me twenty days to die and the pain during those last three would be the worst I’d ever experienced? Oh, yes.
I met Yuri’s confused gaze. Could I endure the plague again? Should I? Others needed me as well as this young man. And we had to rescue Estrid and her staff in two days.
“What’s wrong, Avry?” Flea asked.
“I figured out what I’m supposed to do.”
“That’s great. Right?” Flea’s brow crinkled.
Not so great. Now I needed to decide if I should.
KERRICK
Kerrick suppressed a sigh and invited Ryne to get comfortable. No matter how much he wanted to catch up to Avry, Ryne needed to know.
They built a small fire and sat on opposite sides as if negotiating a treaty. The guards fanned out in a wide circle around them. Kerrick explained waking in the forest and his new limitations. “That’s why I couldn’t go inside. I still don’t have enough energy to leave for long.”
Ryne hadn’t said anything during his story. Now he leaned back against a tree trunk. “That’s...quite a story. Avry was right again. Good thing she’s not the type to gloat.”
The warmth in Ryne’s voice raised Kerrick’s hackles. “Why did you bring her to HQ when she’s needed at the infirmary?”
Ryne told him about the Lilys. “She completely disregarded my orders and put my men in danger, but I couldn’t yell at her because she discovered vital information. Do you know how frustrating that is?”
Oh, yes, Kerrick was well acquainted with Avry’s inability to follow directions. “I’ve found the best way to work with her is to explain the situation. She’ll figure out the best way to approach it and you avoid the whole ‘ordering her around’ thing.”
“I’ve learned that the hard way.”
Kerrick laughed at Ryne’s martyred expression. “What was the vital information?”
“Cellina sent troops to our north. She was doing a classic backdoor sneak, but once word of the...incident with Avry reaches her she might change tactics. Regardless of her plans, I need to protect our flank, which means we had to change the attack on Zabin to a distraction and rescue.” He continued outlining his plans.
“Wait? You’re sending Flea and Avry to rescue Estrid?”
“Do you have another idea? I’m open to suggestions,” Ryne snapped.
Kerrick waited.
“Sorry. I don’t like it, either, but I’ve no choice.” Ryne lowered his voice. “I need Estrid. My army is small and we’re scrambling to stay in this. Without her forces, it’s just a matter of time until we’re forced back over the Nine Mountains.”
Not good. A stray thought struck Kerrick. Would he be able to cross the Nine Mountains? Forests grew between the ridges, but the peaks were bare. He might never